Thing To Do Today: gaudete!

The carol concert in town last week was called Gaudete!

This is the song of that name, though in our concert it was sung by an amateur choir.

 

Gaudete? It means rejoice!

 

(No, the singers in the video aren't exactly glowing with joy, but, hey...)

 

Here is the rest of the song, in Latin and in English:

 

Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!	Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born Out of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!
Tempus adest gratiæ Hoc quod optabamus, Carmina lætitiæ Devote reddamus.	The time of grace has come what we have wished for, songs of joy Let us give back faithfully.
Deus homo factus est Natura mirante, Mundus renovatus est A Christo regnante.	God has become man, To the wonderment of Nature, The world has been renewed By the reigning Christ.
Ezechielis porta Clausa pertransitur, Unde lux est orta Salus invenitur.	The closed gate of Ezekiel Is passed through, Whence the light is born, Salvation is found.
Ergo nostra contio Psallat iam in lustro; Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro.	Therefore let our gathering Now sing in brightness Let it give praise to the Lord: Greeting to our King.

You don't have to believe any of it, today is still a good excuse for rejoicing.

Gaudete!

Word To Use Today: gaudete. At the time this song was written, probably in the 1500s, everyone in Europe would know someone who understood Latin.

It's a bit like the way nowadays that many Eurovision Song Contest entries are in English.

Gaudete was first published in Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish and Swedish songs which also included the tune for Good King Wenceslas, in 1582.

 Gaudete is part of the Latin word gaudiō, which means to rejoice.